Today's Family & Kids Activities in Westchester-Sep 25

September 25, 2013
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There's so much to do in Westchester! Take a look below at today's events. Whether your child is a fan of animals, art, museums, or the great outdoors, we've got something for your family. Looking ahead to the weekend or some vacation time? Check out the NY Metro Parents' calendar!!

Enjoy wonderful summer days at the Center with walks, live animals, stories, and crafts. Dress for outdoor activities. For children ages 2-4 years with a parent/caregiver. (Formerly known as Critters, Crafts and Kids; please note new age group.)

Stops include the Aquarium's "fish kitchen," where 18 tons of fish a year is prepared and above the 110,000-gallon Open Ocean tank, where the dorsal fins of 8-foot sand tiger sharks cut through the water's surface. Participants must be at least 10 years old; under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. For reservations call ext. 2206.

Take a guided walk along the woodland trail while enjoying a favorite children's storybook, "Chipmunk at Hollow Tree Lane," by Victoria Sherrow. Bookmarks and passes for a free CPKids Meal will be available in the Manor House. Sponsored by California Pizza Kitchen. Recommended for ages 8 and younger. Free through Sept. 29.

Experience this traditional Victorian pastime on the lawn at Glenview, the Hudson River Museum's historic home. Croquet in the Courtyard gets a 21st-century spin with a course designed by Adam Parker Smith, the Hudson River Museum's Teaching Artist-in-Residence. Smith takes the traditional croquet course and turns the game on its head with sand boxes, ramps, jumps, borders, and bridges. Games will be played in the courtyard with up to six players. Weather permitting. Saturdays and Sundays, 1-4pm, through Sep. 29.

Family Studio offers families ways to participate in the Arts and Science Projects offered on weekends at the Museum. Help populate the Habitat Wall with all the things that call the Hudson Valley home, use microscopes to find river life, design a wall pattern with found objects and natural materials using your own design, or building on others'. These creative activities are inspired by the Museum's collections and exhibitions, and are led by Junior Docents. Saturdays and Sundays, 1-4pm, through Sep. 29.

Every Saturday Straight A's invites kids of all ages to enjoy free arts and crafts. Drop in any time between 1-3pm, no reservation necessary. Sep. 7: Make your own Back-to-School Placemat; Sep. 14: Create a Shape Tractor; Sep. 21: Make a Colors of the Season Booklet; Sep. 28: Create a What-a-Hoot Paper Bag Owl.

Fondue dining allows everyone to enjoy good conversation, eat slowly, and savor each bite. Parents can enjoy three-course meal (salad, entree, and chocolate), and kids under 14 can have two courses (entree and chocolate), all for a fixed price every Sunday in September from 12-4pm. Visit meltingpot.com/white-plains/specials for details.

Yoga is all about being the best you can be physically, mentally, and spiritually. Join in this yoga class, taught by Nancy, a certified yoga and fitness instructor with over 20 years of experience. Classes held outdoors weather permitting, indoors if needed, and run for an hour. Bring your own mat. Call for more information and multi-class discount. Mondays, Sep. 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 at 6:30pm; Fridays, Sep. 6, 13, 20, and 27 at 9am; Saturdays Sep. 7, 14, 21, and 28 at 9am.

This independent market will offer fruit, produce, including heirloom varieties, and flowers grown by local farmers, using certified organic, organic, biodynamic, and conventional methods. There will be an array of artisanal baked goods, including raw, vegan, and gluten-free, cheese, dairy, wine, meats, fresh seafood, prepared foods, as well as hand-crafted local products.
The John Jay Homestead Farm Market continues to embrace the small, local farmer, whose farms are literally miles from the site. The core local farmer/owners are Liz Taggart, Amba Farm of Bedford Hills, Jerry & Nancy Kohlberg, Cabbage Hill Farm of Mount Kisco, Lou D'Alessandro, JD Farms of Brewster, Deb Taft, Mobius Fields of Waccabuc, Shep Goodman, Mt. Holly Farm of Katonah, and Jenny Elliot, Tiny Hearts Farm of North Salem. In addition John Ubaldo, John Boys Farm of Cambridge, and Mark Santoro, Gaia's Breath Farm of Jordanville round out the mix.
Some of the returning vendors are Ladle of Love, Wave Hill Breads, Red Barn Bakery, Big Bang Coffee, and Whitecliff Vineyards. A few of the new vendors include Jnana Organics of Mount Kisco, Truck Restaurant of Bedford, and Champagne Tea and Plum Plums Cheese, both of Pound Ridge.
Shoppers will enjoy 62-acres of historic grounds and are welcome to explore flower, herb and vegetable gardens, a chicken-and-egg co-op, and a 12-hive apiary, along with wooded trails and a pond. They can tour the historic Jay house, discover the new Education and Visitor Center in the newly restored Carriage Barn, or explore the new Children's Discovery Centers in five of the site's historic buildings, filled with hands-on activities.

HABITAT for ARTISTS is an artist-run group that explores the nature of creativity, the role of the artist in our communities and how to create dialog with a new audience.
What sparks these explorations is a small 6' x 6', temporary, recycled, and reusable studio that HFA installs in varied locations, from city streets to farms and parks. This fall, thanks to a grant from the Junior League of Pelham, Pelham Art Center is partnering with HFA to install a temporary studio in its Courtyard, which will showcase artists from the Westchester/Hudson Valley area, New York City, and as far south as Charleston, SC. Passersby can stop and watch, ask questions, and in many cases, actually participate in the artistic creation.
As a dynamic venue for artists as well, the studio will cause artists to creatively react to the changing environment, engage with the public and pose questions relevant to sustainable practice. Each artist involved in this project will adapt the studio to suit his/her own needs, playing off the work of previous artists or creating his/her own environment. As much as possible, the materials used in the creation of the structure will consist of reclaimed and re-used components. For more information visit pelhamartcenter.org and habitatforartists.org.
Pelham Art Center is located in downtown Pelham on Fifth Avenue, Pelham's busy commercial thoroughfare. The courtyard is open to the sidewalk and street, and therefore visible to hundreds of passersby and cars every day. Pelham Art Center also attracts thousands of people of all ages to its events, fundraisers, classes, and performances.
Participating Artists: Jarod Charzewski - Charleston, SC; Margaret Coleman - Brooklyn, NY; Gail Heidel- Brooklyn, NY; Rachel Klinghoffer - Brooklyn, NY; Stacy Miller - New Rochelle, NY; Colette Murphy - Brooklyn, NY; Victoria Rolett - New Rochelle, NY; Anna Marie Shogren - Brooklyn, NY; Scott Seaboldt - New Rochelle; Chris Smith - Bronx, NY; Andrea Stanislav - New York City/Minneapolis, MN. HFA Collective Group - Hudson Valley: Michael Asbill, Ina Braun, Lisa Breznak, Thomas DangVu, Simon Draper, Faheem Haider, Michelle Hersh, Marnie Hillsley, Jessica Poser, Beth E Wilson.

The Family Garden is buzzing in late summer! Learn about important pollinators: honeybees and the monarch butterflies passing by on their way to Mexico.
Get buzzy doing the honeybee dance, observe up-close the workings of a beehive, and sample honey from different nectar sources. Meander through the meadow to find the beautiful monarchs' favorite snack-spots for fueling up before their long flight.
Plants and imaginations grow at the Howell Family Garden, where kids are allowed - no, encouraged! - to play in the dirt. Display gardens such as the Global Gardens and the Breakfast Bowl, and other daily activities, delight and inspire.

"Remix" weaves the narrative of collage through the history of modern and contemporary art. Coined in the early 20th century from the French word coller, meaning to glue or stick, the term "collage" originally described a revolutionary method of art-making. Over time its definition has expanded to represent an approach to and perception of the modern world. The 100 artists featured in the exhibition utilize collage's core conceptual traits - heterogeneity, fragmentation, and appropriation - to address with clarity and immediacy the circumstances of their times. Remix explores the impact of collage on artistic and cultural expression and gathers together the diverse fragments of a rich artistic tradition.
On view through October 13. Museum hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays: 10am-5pm; Sundays: 12-5pm. Closed Mondays.

Clay Art Center is proud to present "Reconfigurations," featuring the ceramic sculptures and drawings of Cynthia Consentino.
About her work, Cynthia states, "'Reconfigurations' investigates past representations of the female in art, particularly the ceramics figurine. Alterations and reconfigurations subvert and expand upon the originals' ideas of gender. By stripping down, inverting and reassembling the familiar, we can look anew and better see what we consume. Concepts of beauty, art, and worth are interconnected with our ideas of gender. What we consume in our cultural soup of arts and media both forms and reflects our beliefs. Whether it is fine art sculpture, the decorative knick-knack, fairy tales, or religious stories, to name a few 'art' sources in this exhibit, associations between good and bad, valuable and worthless, female and male are delineated.
My work utilizes the figure along with references to familiar literary and visual symbols to delve into our collective experience and explore influences. The ubiquitous figurine offers an expose on our ideas of art itself, never mind gender. What is depicted, what is collectible, and who is doing the collecting are some of the first questions that arise. The figurine, as visual condensations or snapshots of the values and dreams, past glories and fantasies of our culture, is particularly suited to a study of gender in art."
Cynthia Consentino received her MFA from University of Massachusetts, Amherst and her BFA from The Cooper Union College of Arts and Sciences. She is a studio artist in Holyoke, Massachusetts and teaches as adjunct faculty at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Holyoke Community College. A recipient of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, American Craft Council, The Society of Arts and Crafts, Berkshire Taconic, and The Blanche E. Colman Artist Awards, Consentino has exhibited widely. She has also been a resident artist at the John Michael Kohler Arts/Industry Program, Oregon College of Arts and Crafts, La Napoule Foundation, France, and Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Japan. In 2005 Cynthia completed a tile commission for the John M. Kohler Art Center in Wisconsin. Her artist-designed washroom has over 2000 relief and hand painted tiles.
Clay Art Center is a not-for-profit ceramic art organization offering exhibitions, clay classes for adults and children, studio spaces for clay artists and outreach programs in the community. It is located in the heart of Port Chester at 40 Beech Street, Port Chester, NY 10573. Gallery and SHOP hours are Monday through Saturday, 10am-4pm or by appointment. On view through Oct. 19.

Although highlighting Yorktown and its surrounding areas, this exhibit could be about any local town in the Hudson River valley.
The dominant structure was the church; hotels and summer cabins abounded before accessibility through the nearby northern and eastern mountains. The coming of the railroad moved the center of town from Crompond to Yorktown Heights.
Significant residents in town were painter Wallace Putnam, photographer Consuelo Kanaga, editor William Maxwell, Estee Lauder, Lydia Locke, and actress Ann Francis. Over 30 works by local artists will be featured. Folk artist Walter Liebrock, watercolorist Ann Bower, William Nelson, and other talented painters reproduce the look of the town and its surrounding area. The Sta-Hot electric iron was manufactured in Yorktown, and Clarence Birdseye patented his frozen food idea while living in town. There is now a fledgling winery.
This is just a microcosm of the display about Yorktown and its surroundings, and should be a fun and nostalgic visit for all.
There are also five permanent exhibit rooms, a gift shop, and research library to round out your visit.
The exhibit is open April 27 through October 19.

Although highlighting Yorktown and its surrounding areas, this exhibit could be about any local town in the Hudson River valley.
The dominant structure was the church; hotels and summer cabins abounded before accessibility through the nearby northern and eastern mountains. The coming of the railroad moved the center of town from Crompond to Yorktown Heights.
Significant residents in town were painter Wallace Putnam, photographer Consuelo Kanaga, editor William Maxwell, Estee Lauder, Lydia Locke, and actress Ann Francis. Over 30 works by local artists will be featured. Folk artist Walter Liebrock, watercolorist Ann Bower, William Nelson, and other talented painters reproduce the look of the town and its surrounding area. The Sta-Hot electric iron was manufactured in Yorktown, and Clarence Birdseye patented his frozen food idea while living in town. There is now a fledgling winery.
This is just a microcosm of the display about Yorktown and its surroundings, and should be a fun and nostalgic visit for all.
There are also five permanent exhibit rooms, a gift shop, and research library to round out your visit.
The exhibit is open April 27 through October 19. Museum hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11am-4pm; Saturdays 1-4pm.

This new exhibition will delight visitors with an array of eggs. From food to children's fairy tales, Fabergé eggs to pharmacology, Eggs-hibition explores the evolution of the egg, its prominent inclusion in creation myths worldwide, the complex simplicity of its design, and the inspiration it imparts to artists who have painted, bejeweled, photographed, and written about them. March 23-October 20, 2013.

A group exhibition of sculpture and installation by contemporary mid-career artists addressing narratives related to science and technology. Curator Jeffrey Mongrain is an artist and Head of MFA Sculpture at Hunter College in NYC.
Related programming includes an Opening reception and All-Age-Workshop on September 12 from 6-8pm, a Gallery Conversation on September 18 from 6-7pm, and a Panel Discussion and Frankenstein-inspired children's art workshop on October 19, 2013 from 1-3pm.

Locally harvested vegetables and fruit grown on a local farm established in 1732. Featuring corn, peaches, blueberries, tomatoes, apples, apple pies, cider and cider donuts (in the fall), pickles, apple butter, and canned peaches from Lancaster County PA, Amish Country, and products from the Hudson Valley. Free delivery in Ossining and Briarcliff for orders over $20.

To celebrate the Village of Ossining's bicentennial, tour the 25 outdoor sculptures installed throughout the Village's historic buildings and downtown waterfront area. The six-month juried exhibition, through Oct. 26, will provide direct and free access to art for thousands of residents and visitors.

Groundwork Hudson Valley's newly expanded farmers' market in downtown Yonkers features local produce grown within 100 miles of Yonkers, as well as food tastings, free lectures, and entertainment for all ages.

Join the crew of the research vessel Oceanic for an educational and scenic trip of the sound. Aquarium educators put participants to work in collecting and examining animals from all levels of the water column: plankton gathered at the surface (and viewed with a video microscope), crabs and worms grabbed from the muddy bottom, and a variety of fish, crabs, lobsters and surprises brought up in the trawl net. Advance reservations recommended. Go online or call ext. 2206 to for more information or to purchase tickets. Saturdays September 7 through October 26.

Pumpkin sculptures of spooky scarecrows, frightening spiders, sneaky snakes, and more await discovery at every turn in the Everett Children's Adventure Garden. The display includes more than 500 intricately carved pumpkins that are sure to capture imagination. Special events run throughout the month. Through Oct. 31 in the Everett Children's Adventure Garden.
Haunted Pumpkin Garden Activities
Tuesdays-Fridays; 1:30-5:30pm
Saturdays and Sundays, and Monday, October 14; 10am-5:30pm in the Everett Children's Adventure Garden:
- Join a Halloween Parade (meet at the Pumpkin House, weekdays 1:30pm; weekends 1pm and 3pm.
- Collect fallen fruits and seeds in a scavenger hunt bag.
- Put on your own performance in the Pumpkin Puppet Theater.
- Enjoy spooky readings from favorite Halloween storybooks on weekends (2pm and 3pm).

The new attraction will include a ride through the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods with more than two-dozen animatronic dinosaurs up to 40 feet long which move, snarl, roar, and spit.
In anticipation of the new exhibit, the Bronx Zoo is offering New Yorkers a chance to vote for their favorite dinosaur species at bronxzoo.com/dino and win tickets to see the dinosaurs. Included in the vote: long-necked Brachiosaurus, the intimidating Tyrannosaurus rex, the gator-like Baryonyx, the massive Triceratops, or the flighted Quetzalcoatlus. Exclusive Bronx Zoo Dinosaur Safari stickers that can be used with a safari field guide will be given to those who vote.
Dinosaur Safari will include a ride through a two-acre area of the zoo, and will highlight the physical or behavioral adaptations many share with species that are alive today.
This limited engagement will through Sunday, November 3, and will be included in the Total Experience Ticket.
A 20% discount is offered with online purchases for Monday and Tuesday visits. Tickets can be purchased in advance at bronxzoo.com/dino.

This Cole Porter hit offers a host of glorious songs with some dazzling rhymes, and a witty script about a former husband-and-wife acting team at war with each other while trying to stage a musical version of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." The show, whose original 1948 production won five Tony awards including Best Musical, scintillates with classic Cole Porter numbers, "Wunderbar," "Always True To You In My Fashion," "Why Can't You Behave," "Too Darned Hot," "I Hate Men," and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare." Show runs through November 10, 2013. Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday matinees including lunch; Thursday, Friday Saturday, and Sunday Evenings including dinner.

Kykuit, the six-story stone house and rolling hilltop estate that served as home to four generations of Rockefellers, is open to visitors beginning Saturday, May 4, through Sunday, Sep. 30, and Nov. 1-11. Open daily Oct 1-31. Kykuit's modern and classical art collection, architecture, and expansive gardens are consistently rated the top attraction in the lower Hudson Valley, and draw tens of thousands of visitors annually. Kykuit, which means "lookout" in Dutch, includes a six-story stone house, multiple terraced gardens, art galleries, outdoor classical and modern sculpture, and commanding Hudson River views. Its hilltop location overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades is 500 feet above sea level. Visitors to Kykuit learn the story of the Rockefellers, beginning with John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, whose business acumen made him the richest man in America in his day. He later became the country's first great philanthropist. By his death in 1937, he had given away more than half his fortune through various philanthropic programs. Visitors can choose from four tours: Classic, Grand, Timesaver, and Selected Highlights. The Classic, ideal for first-time visitors, is a shorter experience than the comprehensive, three-hour Grand. Besides the mansion, both of these tours include time in Kykuit's art galleries, gardens, and Coach Barn, with its collection of horse-drawn carriages, vintage automobiles, and equestrian equipment. The 90-minute Timesaver is ideal for those on tighter schedules, while Selected Highlights maximizes time in the gardens. Visitors can buy tickets online in advance, choosing the exact tour, time, and date they want to visit. Tickets are on sale at hudsonvalley.org. Historic Hudson Valley recommends advanced ticket buying, particularly for weekend tours, which fill up quickly. Besides online, tickets may be purchased by calling 914-631-8200 (service charge additional) or at the Kykuit Visitor Center at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow. All tours start at the Kykuit Visitor Center; doors open at 9am.

Fresh baked goods, cheese, cut flowers, dairy products, fruit, hand-made soaps, herbs, meats, organic produce, plants, prepared foods, specialty foods, vegetables, wines, and more. Family-friendly activities every week.
Here are some of the vendors:
Bombay Emerald Chutney. Indian-style chutneys (mint, plum, and more), samosas, and saag paneer.
Bread Alone from Boiceville, NY. Organic breads baked every day using fresh grains and local produce. From rustic miche loaves to San Francisco-style sourdough, as well as their signature Morning Glory Muffins.
Chatham Brewery from Old Chatham, NY. Small-batch ales sold in growlers; hard pumpkin, pear, and apple ciders, and old fashioned root beer, also sold in growlers.
Clean Ridge Soap from Pound Ridge, NY. Soaps, oils, and lotions, all made from local plants and herbs from the NY area.
Coach Farm from Pine Plains, NY. Authentic artisanal goat cheeses fresh from the farm, not sealed in plastic. Also goat's milk yogurts.
Cowberry Crossing Farm from Claverack, NY. Farmers, Richardand& Cecile Harrison, are committed to local, humane, sustainable farming, and their farm is certified both organic and biodynamic. Produce, poultry, meat, and eggs.
Flourish Baking Company from Scarsdale, NY. Diane Forley and Michael Otsuka bring their tarts, breads, prepared foods, and delicious vegetable pot pies to the market.
Gaia's Breath from Hastings, NY. Organic meat vendor of free-range lamb, pork, veal, and chicken, and high-end flavorful sausages and charcuterie. Their farm, "265 acres of pure organic bliss," is situated between the Catskill and Adirondack mountain ranges.
Honey Locust Farm from Newburgh, NY. A unique, small-scale farm that specializing in Chef-Centered Gourmet Agriculture. Products include teas, ciders, greens, herbs, and of course, honey.
Hudson Valley Duck from Ferndale, NY. Bringing to market two varieties of duck at the farm - the classic Moulard and a heritage breed called Lola - and also duck charcuterie (duck prosciutto breast and duck salami), as well as speciality products like confit.
Joe's Mozzarella from Hastings-on-the Hudson, NY. Handmade mozzarella and sandwiches.
Kings Roaming Angus from Cobleskill, NY. Grass-fed beef, pork, and free-range chicken and eggs. The go-to vendor for all your BBQ needs.
Kontoulis Olive Oil from Larchmont, NY. After inheriting a grove of olive trees, the Kontoulis family turned the grove into a business. They harvest and press the olives in Greece, but bottle the oil here.
Madura Farms from Orange County, NY. Fancy mushrooms are their specialty, used for their medicinal and culinary value. Also available are their tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and exotic leafy greens.
Morgiewicz Farms from Goshen, NY. You won't see heads of lettuce this big and fresh for miles. This family has been farming in black dirt country for four generations.
Newgate Farms from Windsor, CT. Family owned since 1933 and farming for five generations, Newgate Farms is now a strictly retail, farmers' market agri-business, bringing fresh produce and farm products to the market.
Obercreek Farm from Beacon, NY. Organic greenhouse baby and Asian greens.
Orchards of Concklin from Pomona, NY. Many varieties of local apples and other fruits and berries, fresh apple cider donuts, pies, and cookies!
Papa Pasquale Ravioli and Pasta Co. from Brooklyn, NY. A bevy of fresh ravioli, stuffed shells, rice balls, homespun marinara sauce, fresh ricotta, and dried sausage.
Picklelicious from Teaneck, NJ. An amazing array of pickles (including their famous "pickle-on-a-stick"!) olives, and tapenades.
The Pie Lady and Son from Nyack, NY. Even Grandma would approve of these classic American pies, made with fruit from local farms including the Chappaqua Farmers' Market's very own Orchards of Conklin!
Pura Vida Fishery from Long Island, NY. Fresh fish, shellfish, and smoked fish from the Hampton Bays. "Scallops so sweet you could eat them raw."
Pure Food Sisters from Greenwich CT. Two sisters who love to eat and cook healthy offer their line of prepared foods: arugula pesto, French bistro salads like shredded carrot or celery root remoulade.
Ready, Set, Sharp from Hastings, NY. On-the-spot sharpening of knives (even serrated!), gardening tools, scissors, etc.
Renee's Jams from Bedford, NY. Schoolteacher-turned-summer-jam-maker, Renee McCaine-Taylor, makes real homestyle jams.
Rich Brownies from Briarcliff Manor, NY. Fans of Rich Brownies have described them as "amazing," "exquisite," and "as addictive as crack." They really are that good!
Savor Cookies from Watertown, CT. A dizzying array of unusually flavored sweet and savory cookies such as roasted red pepper, cardamom and dark chocolate, and birch and maple. All beautifully packaged for gift-giving.
Spice Revolution from Dobbs Ferry, NY. Selling meat rubs and seasonings for baking and vegetables, as well as exotic spices, gourmet salts, and chocolates.
Stone Barns from Pocantico Hills, NY. Chef Dan Barber has become the voice of food sustainability, and his restaurants, Blue Hill, and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, are the gold standard of true farm to table cuisine. So, it is with great pleasure that the Chappaqua Farmers Market announces that on the first and third Saturday of every month, Stone Barns will be selling their pristine meats raised in Pocantico Hills.
Taiim Falafel from Hastings, NY. Hummus, Israeli salad, tabouleh, and other delicacies from this popular Hastings Eatery.
Tierra Nut Farm from Valatie, NY. Organic, locally roasted and prepared nuts (ginger cashew, tamari almond, Thai-spiced cashews etc.), as well as nut butters and coffee made from fair-trade beans roasted in the Hudson Valley.
True Food of Nyack from Nyack, NY. Prepared foods like wheatberry salads and lentil burgers made with local ingredients. Also, a variety of healthy burritos, filled with all things local.
Winding Drive Artisan Jams, from Woodbury, CT. Artisan jams, jellies, and marmalades that emphasize distinctive flavor blends and traditional cooking methods.
Contact info@chappaquafarmersmarket.org for more information.

The New York Botanical Garden's Greenmarket provides affordable, locally grown produce along with fresh, nutritious baked goods, and other specialty items. Talk to the farmers to learn more about the nutritional and health benefits of gardening and eating locally. Learn how to use produce from the market to make easy, nutritional meals at weekly cooking demonstrations and find out about composting, recycling, growing vegetables, and more at special demonstrations throughout the season. Hear "what's fresh" at the market each week by calling 718-362-9561 and pressing 406# to find out what you can incorporate into your meals. Cooking demonstrations, recipe exchanges, and raffles as well as educational programming will take place in the market throughout the season. Every Wednesday John Scardina graces the market with live folk music. Free admission and parking to shop at the Greenmarket.

When it comes to the subject of Israel, nothing is simple; not its history, its geography, its politics, its peoples, or its multicultural and religious core. The points of view are as varied and passionate as the people who populate this land, a little smaller than New Jersey (8,000 square miles), yet large enough to rivet the world's attention. It is a site of conflict, ancient and recent, and of promise.
The new exhibition, "The Compromised Land: Recent Photography and Video from Israel," organized by the Neuberger Museum of Art of Purchase College, confronts many of Israel's issues head on. Exploring the themes of coexistence and conflict, history and memory, and the importance of land, the work of twenty-one contemporary artists will be on view in this exhibition through Dec. 1, 2013.
"The Compromised Land" revolves around the notion of land, which, in Israel, is regarded as a sacred, as well as a geographical, economic, social, and political organism - rooted in the psyche and culture of its peoples, and thousands of years of history. Israel's conflicts, history, and culture shadow daily life and permeate artistic expression. The work of established and emerging artists, who are emotionally and intellectually invested in their country's fate, gives voice to their sense of unease and threat, as they consider, reveal, interpret, and question Israel's politics, culture, and future. The exhibition also examines Israeli photography and video, practices that dominate contemporary Israeli art, and for which Israel is internationally recognized.
The featured artists include: Boaz Arad, Yael Bartana, Joseph Dadoune, Nir Evron, Barry Frydlender, Dani Gal, Ori Gersht, Dor Guez, Oded Hirsch, Miki Kratsman, Sigalit Landau, Dana Levy, Shahar Marcus, Adi Nes, Nira Pereg, Gilad Ratman, Michael Rovner, Lior Shvil, Sharon Ya�Ari, and Rona Yefman with Tanja Schlander.
"The Compromised Land: Recent Photography and Video from Israel" is curated by Helaine Posner, Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, and guest curator Lilly Wei; and is accompanied by a fully-illustrated 96-page catalogue with essays by Ory Dessau; Ron Pundak, Israeli historian and chairman of the Israeli Peace NGO Forum; and the co-curators.
Support for the exhibition is provided by Artis, Helen Stambler Neuberger and Jim Neuberger, Susan and James Dubin, and the Office of Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of Israel in New York. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of the Neuberger Museum of Art and the Purchase College Foundation.
Support for the residency of artist Gilad Ratman is provided by the Israel Institute, which is dedicated to enhancing knowledge and study of modern Israel. Additional support is provided by the UJA-Federation of New York in Westchester.

Learn about the Native American women who transformed everyday objects with personal expressions of artistic flair. See how natural resources were combined with trade goods to produce extraordinary works of art during the dramatic cultural and economic changes at the turn of the last century. Their works, all from the Stamford Museum & Nature Center's permanent collection, are being paired in this exhibition with the iconic photographs of Edward S. Curtis, who captured the last vestiges of traditional Native American culture in the western United States. His mission was to safeguard a sacred legacy by preserving traditional culture, personal histories, and beliefs through photographs. This exhibition offers an opportunity to experience the Native American message of beauty, heart, and spirit. September 21-December 3, 2013.

"Brighter Days," an exhibition of paintings by South Salem artist Suzan Waldinger, will open on Saturday, September 21, at The Gallery in the Park at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River.
Ms. Waldinger, a full-time artist whose favored medium is acrylic, creates vividly colorful images in the contemporary expressionist style using a technique known as impasto, in which the artist squeezes thick paint from the tube onto the canvas and uses various tools to create pleasing effects. Her art is free-wheeling, sometimes whimsical, and illustrates her strong attraction to color and texture.
The exhibition will be on view daily, 9am-4pm, through Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013.
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is a Westchester County park located at the junction of Routes 35 and 121 South in Cross River.
For more information, go to westchestergov.com/parks or call 914-864-7317.

Dresses and costumes from the Downton Abbey era from the New Castle Historical Society's extensive costume collection. Appointments for tours at other times than those mentioned can be arranged by calling 914-238-4666 or visiting the website.

This film invites the audience to follow along with a daring team of "storm chasers" as they work to understand the origins and evolution of tornadoes. Sean Casey, star of the Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers" reality series, leads this mission to document one of Earth's most awe-inspiring events - the birth of a tornado.

Bright swaths of vibrant colors transform the Katonah Museum of Art's exterior in its newest outdoor exhibition, "Six Ladders," by artist Andrea Lilienthal. Lilienthal created a series of giant bamboo ladders for the Museum's stately Sculpture Garden that are whimsical and enigmatic; their brilliant colors electrify the natural surroundings.
Five ladders, with their cheerful colors and playful patterns, lean against the Museum's enormous spruce trees in various positions and at different angles. On the building's facade, a sixth, 30-foot ladder extends just short of the roofline - its form and ribbons of color energizing the wall and lending sculptural dimension to the flat expanse. Each of the ladders are hand-constructed from sturdy commercial bamboo, harvested in China, and painted with high-gloss outdoor enamel paint from Holland. Their surfaces are smooth and reflective, in contrast to the course-textured tree bark.
According to Katonah Museum of Art Curator Ellen Keiter, "These are not functional structures - their bottom rungs are too high to mount and the ladders fail to reach the top of their intended destinations. These are instead beautiful works of art; Andrea Lilienthal responds to the inherent geometry of ladders and the repetitive rhythm of their rungs. She finds beauty in their simple, minimalist construction."
"Lilienthal's ladders instill a sense of wonder and suggest that seemingly unreachable goals can be attained," she says.
Keiter explains that bamboo is a hollow-stemmed, woody plant that "bows, sways, and splits, so slight imperfections, even substantial cracks, add distinctive character to each ladder. No two ladders are painted the same, yet their similarly saturated hues coalesce into a lively visual harmony."
She adds, "The bands of luscious color wrap around the bamboo like candy confections, and bright confetti patterns alternate with stark black-and-white designs. A causal link exists between the artificial colors and the natural bamboo. On one ladder, Lilienthal painted white rings around the growth nodes of the bamboo; on another, the nodes demarcate the lengths of painted blue and orange sections."
Says Lilienthal: "These magnificent and mysterious trees [at the Katonah Museum of Art], whose tops are not even visible, dwarf the people and furniture below. In response to their super scale, I chose the ladder, a form with human scale and multiple readings: utilitarian ancient, mythic, and universal. The severe and stately trees support the bamboo ladders in an implied partnership; rooted and stable, the trees assist the ladders in their attempt to ascend. But ultimately, how do you mount an 80-foot Norwegian spruce tree? My answer was to climb it with imagination, affirming our connection to the natural world."
Lilienthal has used bamboo in her artistic practice for several years. In earlier installations, she aligned multiple painted, wrapped, or taped bamboo poles along a wall - works awash in color, but still relatable in size. However, her current exhibition at the Katonah Museum of Art is in keeping with the majesty, diameter, and spacing of the giant spruce trees.
Adding to the intrigue of this exhibition are enlarged photographs of the Garden's spruce trees displayed in the Museum's two west windows adjacent to the lone 30-foot ladder. On first impression, the images appear as reflections. In this way, Lilienthal reinforces the relationship between the ladders and the trees while further playing with the viewers' perceptions and expectations.
Historically, ladders carry rich and universal associations. In many faiths and fables, ladders are a symbol of ascent, of travel, of reaching upward. In modern times, they represent progress and growth, allowing us to reach higher than we would otherwise be able to go. Ladders symbolize elevation: from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge, and from the material to the spiritual. They are featured in art from prehistoric cave paintings to contemporary times. Jacob's Ladder, the metaphysical passage between heaven and earth, is mentioned in the first book of the Bible, and is represented in such disparate media as Renaissance paintings and popular
video games. There is a popular African-American spiritual, "We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder," Eric Carl's beloved children's picture book, "Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me," and innumerable colloquialisms regarding "the ladder of success."
On view through April 21, 2014 during Museum hours: Sundays: 12-5pm; Tuesdays through Saturdays: 10am-5pm. Closed Mondays.

Visit the toy boat-making area on weekends for a fun 20-minute boat-building project. Build and decorate a toy sailboat to take home as a special keepsake of your visit. Saturdays and Sundays year-round.

Ask a high school student why s/he’s so stressed out, and prepare to hear a long list of offenders. But you can help your teen: parents can use their own experience, along with some love and patience, to help their overwhelmed teens cope with stress.

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